Piston-and-connecting rod assembly

Abstract

A piston-and-control rod assembly includes a hollow piston having a skirt; axially spaced, circumferential piston ring grooves provided in the skirt; a radial crown having an inner face; and a bearing block projecting from a central portion of the inner face and having a bearing bore oriented radially to the piston axis. The bearing bore is situated in a zone approximately radially adjacent the piston ring grooves. The assembly further includes a connecting rod having a main connecting rod body; a head portion located at an end of the main connecting rod body and being laterally offset relative thereto in a direction of offset; and a piston pin affixed to the head portion and projecting unilaterally therefrom in a direction opposite to the direction of offset. The piston pin is received in the bearing bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A piston-and-control rod assembly comprising (a) a hollow piston having (1) an axis;   (2) a skirt;   (3) axially spaced, circumferential piston ring grooves provided in said skirt;   (4) a radial crown having an inner face; and   (5) a bearing block projecting from a central portion of said inner face and having a bearing bore oriented radially to said axis; said bearing bore being situated in a zone approximately radially adjacent the piston ring grooves; and     (b) a connecting rod having (1) a main connecting rod body;   (2) a head portion located at an end of said main connecting rod body and being laterally offset relative to a length of the main connecting rod body in a direction of offset; and   (3) a piston pin affixed to said head portion and projecting unilaterally therefrom in a direction opposite to said direction of offset; said piston pin being received in said bearing bore.     
     
     
       2. The piston-and-control rod assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said head portion is laterally offset to an extent such that a resultant force acting on said piston pin passes through a center of said piston pin and a path of the force is in alignment with a longitudinal axis of said main connecting rod body. 
     
     
       3. The piston-and-control rod assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston pin and said head portion form a single, one-piece component. 
     
     
       4. The piston-and-control rod assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising an arcuate bearing surface provided on said head portion adjacent said piston pin and a supporting surface provided on said inner face of said crown; said bearing surface of said head portion being in engagement with said supporting surface of said inner base face, whereby said connecting rod is directly axially supported on said inner face. 
     
     
       5. The piston-and-control rod assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said head portion is laterally offset to an extent such that a resultant force acting on said piston pin and said bearing surface of said head portion passes through a center of said piston and a path of the force is in alignment with a longitudinal axis of said main connecting rod body. 
     
     
       6. The piston-and-control rod assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston pin has diametrically opposite flattened portions.